Kennesaw State football wrapped up Homecoming Week with a 33-30 victory against Tennessee Tech on Saturday, Oct. 22.
This win secures KSU’s sixth straight Homecoming game win and extends the Owls to 3-0 against the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles offense started the game strong, but as the Owls warmed up the defense put pressure on TTU, stopping the Golden Eagles at the six-yard line.
KSU’s offense took advantage of the defense’s momentum. Xavier Shepherd rushed 41 yards then launched the ball and connected with receiver Gabriel Benyard for a 23-yard pass.
The Owls inched closer and closer until Preston Daniels was able to rush through the middle for a 10-yard touchdown, putting KSU on the board with a 7-0 lead.
KSU continued the pressure as the defense forced TTU to settle for a punt on their drive. The offense made sure to utilize this as Shepherd targeted Isaac Foster for another KSU touchdown following 17 plays and a 78-yard drive.Tennessee Tech managed to get on the board with a 17-yard touchdown halfway through the second quarter, lessening the score gap to 10-7.
At the four-minute mark, Shepherd brought the Owls into field goal territory. This drive was labeled as one of the most prominent highlights of the game as Xavier Hill remarkably achieved a one-handed reception putting the Owls on TTU’s five-yard line. Conor Cummins successfully led KSU to a 17-7 advantage with a field goal right down the middle of the goalpost.
TTU answered KSU by putting up a field goal just before halftime.
The game became more intense as a result of the Golden Eagles kicking a field goal to tie up the game on their first possession of the third quarter.
TTU maintained momentum racking up on field goals as they put up a 46-yard field goal taking over the lead and bringing the score to 20-17.
Though the Owls were down throughout the fourth quarter, they did not waiver from adversity. With 1:21 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, both KSU and TTU scored a combined 17 points, tying the game once more.
KSU and TTU headed into overtime with a score of 27-27.
The Owls won the coin toss electing to begin OT with their defense. The team’s defense protected the nest, halting TTU to only gain a field goal.
KSU determined to bring home a win for Homecoming, moved the offense down the field in just five plays. The Owls were just shy of four yards to win the game. Shepherd decided to go with a quarterback keeper and dove into the end zone for the game-winning score.With this game, Shepherd achieved his fifth career game with 100+ rushing yards which moved him into fourth place in the KSU record books.
Kennesaw State football will play its last game of the four-game homestand next Saturday at 1:00 PM as the team hosts Charleston Southern.
This will be the seventh matchup in series history between the Owls and Buccaneers. KSU holds a 4-2 advantage against the Buccaneers.
